Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Liliaceae
Botanical Name
Hyacinthus
Plant Common Name
Hyacinth
General Description
Early-blooming with an intoxicating fragrance, common hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis) has long been a flowering bulb favorite for spring gardens and indoor forcing. Far less well known are the two other species of Hyacinth, H. litwinowii and H. transcapsicus, also native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia.
Growing from squat, rounded bulbs with papery coverings, these herbaceous perennials are best known for their cylindrical clusters of star-like to tubular flowers, which appear in early to mid-spring on stout leafless stems. Two to six fleshy, lance-shaped, cupped green leaves flank the flower stems. In nature, hyacinth flower clusters are loose and airy. Cultivated varieties of Hyacinth orientalis, however, crowd up to 40 flowers onto their flower scapes. Exceptions include the Roman hyacinths and the multi-stemmed Multifora Group, which bear daintier, fewer-flowered, intensely fragrant clusters. Hyacinth cultivars have single or double flowers in shades of blue, purple, red, pink, yellow and white. The flowers commonly appear in the spring, though they can be "forced" into winter bloom through chilling.
Common hyacinths appeared in European gardens around the 16th century and quickly became popular. By the 18th century, the Dutch were the main producers and remain so today. There are hundreds of cultivars.
The other two hyacinth species are well suited for collectors' gardens, being slighter in stature and visual impact and somewhat trickier in cultivation. Both bear loose clusters of blue tubular flowers that lack the powerful fragrance of H. orientalis.
All Hyacinthus prefer full to partial sun and require average to fertile soil with good drainage. Plant the bulbs in the fall at a depth 2 to 3 times their diameter. These bulbs have a chilling requirement for flowering and growth; in warm zones force containerized bulbs, or plant pre-chilled bulbs in the garden. Roman hyacinths require little or no pre-chilling, however. After flowering, leave the foliage until it yellows, so plants can gather energy for next season’s blooms. Common hyacinths can also be forced with their bases immersed in water, most commonly through the use of narrow-necked "hyacinth glasses."
Best planted in masses, hyacinths offer bright color and fragrant blooms to any container or sunny garden. When clumps become too crowded, lift and divide them when dormant in summer or early fall. Most are good for forcing and all make superb long-lasting cut flowers.
